Collapsible spring stand



July 5, 1966 A. LAROCHE 3,259,080

GOLLAPSIBLE SPRING STAND Filed Dec. 5, 1965 INVEN TOR Andre LAROCHE' BYGDW W PATENT AGENT United States Patent 8 Claims. (01. 108-131) The present invention relates to an article of furniture and, more particularly, to a stand which can be used as a side table fora sofa, chair, or the like, and which is collapsible in order to take a minimum of room when not in use.

Side tables for sofas, chains and the like, are very useful in order to be able to place an ash-tray, a drinking glass, a feed-containing plate, or the like, in a convenient and accessible position for the person seated in the chair or the like.

The general object of the present invention resides in the provision of such a side table, or stand, which can be easily .and very quickly collapsed into a fiat and substantially thin elongated member, which can be easily stored away when not in use, said stand automatically taking a locked erected position upon manipulation of the elements.

Another object of the present invention res-ides in the provision of .a collapsible stand of the character described, which, when in erected posit-ion, cannot be collapsed in an accidental manner and can support a relatively heavy weight.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a collapsible stand of the character described, which is of very simple and inexpensive construction and which will have a long life.

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal section of the lower portion of the collapsible stand in erected position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the collapsible stand in erected position and shown on a smaller scale; and

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal section of the upper portion of the collapsible stand, shown in collapsed position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like elements throughout, the collapsible stand in the embodiment shown the drawings comprises a main elongated frame member 1, in the form of a plate of rectangular shape and provided on the four sides with flanges 2 for reinforcing the plate member 1, which may be made of sheet metal or any other rigid material.

A table panel 3 is pivotally connected to one end edge of plate 1 by means of hinges 4, while a floor-engaging member 5 is pivotally connected to the other end edge of plate 1 by means of hinges 6. Table member 3 and floor-engaging member 5 are substantially identical in construction; have a generally rectangular or square shape, and are provided along their exposed edges with inwardly extending flanges 7 and 8, respectively.

Table member 3 and floor-engaging member 5 are pivoted to plate 1 for erecting and closing movement between Ian erected limit position, in which both members 3 land 5 extend at substantially right angles to plate 1 and on the same sides thereof, and a collapsed position in which both members 3 and 5 extend along plate 1 on the same side thereof, with the flanges 7 and 8 directed towards the plate 1 and slightly spaced therefrom, the hinges 4 and 6 being mounted on support bracket 9 ice secured to plate 1 for spacing slightly the axis of pivotal movement of the members 3 and 5 from the main surface of plate 1. In the erected position, the inwardly extending marginal portions 10 and 11 of table 3 and floorengaging member 5, respectively, about against the outside of the end flanges 2 of plate 1, to form an abutment to define said limit erected position of said members 3 and 5.

A straight rod 12 extends longitudinally of plate 1 on the inside thereof and is rotatable about its longitudinal axis within spaced half-collars 13, secured to plate 1. Rod 12 has ,angularly directed extensions 14 at each end, each in turn terminated by an end extension 15 which makes a right angle with rod 12. Extensions 14 and 15 are located in substantially the same plane.

A coil spring 16 surrounds rod 12, is attached thereto at one end 17, while its other straight end 18 bears against plate 1. Spring 16 urges rotation of rod 12 into an active position with extensions 14, 15 at substantially right angles to plate 1. A side arm 19 is secured to rod 12 for manually rotating the same in direction of arrow 20 against action of spring 16 so as to bring extensions 14, 15 flat again-st plate 1 to allow collapsing pivoting move ment of panel 3 and member 5.

The limit active rotated position of rod 12 is defined by one extension 15 abutting against a stop 21 secured to member 5. In the erected position of the device, the extensions 15 of rod 12 firmly engage the underside of table member 3 and floor-engaging member 5 and firmly maintain these members in erected position. However, due to a certain resiliency in the rod 12 and its extension 14, 15, there is no looseness between the rod and the table and the door-engaging member, and between the marginal portion 10, 11 of said table 3 and flooreng-aging member Sand the end flanges 2 of plate 1.

It will be noted that the sum of the lengths of the table top 3 and floor-engaging member 5 is less than the distance between the hinges 4 and 6, to allow said table top 3 and member 5 to extend in a substantially common plane in their collapsed position.

The stand is of light weight construction and can be easily carried about.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

- 1. A collapsible stand comprising a main frame member adapted to be disposed in upright position, a table top hinged to the upper edge of said main frame member and a floor-engaging member hinged .to the lower edge of said main member, said table top and floor-engaging member pivota'ble with respect to said main frame between Ian erected position in which they extend substantially at right angles to said main frame member and on the same side thereof, and a collapsed position in which they extend alongside said main frame member and on the same side thereof, and mean-s to releasably maintain said table top and floor-engaging member is erected position comprising a :rod extending longitudinally of said main frame member and rotatably connected thereto for rotation about its own axis, said trod having at both ends angular extensions adapted to engage the underside of said table top and floor-engaging member, to maintain the same in erected position in an active rotate-d position of said rod member in which its extensions extend in a plane at substantially right angles to said main frame member, spring means connected to said rod and to said main frame member and urging said rod to take said lastnamed active rotated position, rotation of said rod against the action of said spring bringing said rod extensions in a plane .flat agans-t said main frame member to allow collapsing pivoting movement of said table .top and floorengaging member.

2. A collapsible stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spring means consists of a coil spring surrounding said rod, having one end attached thereto and the other end bearing against said main frame member.

3. A collapsible stand as claimed in claim 1, further including a side arm secured to said -rod for manually rotating the same.

4. A collapsible stand as claimed in claim 2, further including a side arm secured to said rod for manually rotating the same.

5. A collapsible stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sum of the lengths of said table top and floor-engaging member is less [than the distance between the hinged connections of said table top and of said floo-rengaging member to said main frame member, to enable said table top and floor-engaging member to extend in a substantially common plane in their collapsed position.

6. A collapsible stand as claimed in claim 2, wherein the :sum of the lentghs of said table .top and floor-engaging member is less than the distance between the hinged connections of said table top and of said floor-engaging member to said main frame member, to enable said table top and fioonengaging member to extend in a s-ubstan-' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 965,338 7/1910 Smiljanic 108131 1,133,109 3/1915 Derbyshire 108132 1,206,507 11/1916 Marsh 108131 1,865,550 7/1932 Wagner 108131 2,409,495 10/1946 Kelley 108-115 X 2,490,318 12/1949 Padon 108131 3,093,095 6/1963 Howe et a1 108-131 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COLLAPSIBLE STAND COMPRISING A MAIN FRAME MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN UPRIGHT POSITION, A TABLE TOP HINGED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID MAIN FRAME MEMBER AND A FLOOR-ENGAGING MEMBER HINGED TO THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID MAIN MEMBER, SAID TABLE TOP AND FLOOR-ENGAGING MEMBER PIVOTABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID MAIN FRAME BETWEEN AN ERECTED POSITION IN WICH THEY EXTEND SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID MAIN FRAME MEMBER AND ON THE SAME SIDE THEREOF, AND A COLLAPSED POSITION IN WHICH THEY EXTEND ALONGSIDE SAID MAIN FRAME MEMBER AND ON THE SAME SIDE THEREOF, AND MEANS TO RELEASABLY MAINTAIN SAID TABLE TOP AND FLOOR-ENGAGING MEMBER IS ERECTED POSITION COMPRISING A ROD EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID MAIN FRAME MEMBER AND ROTATABLY CONNECTED THERETO FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS OWN AXIS, SAID ROD HAVING AT BOTH 